U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh March 10, 2010
Operations Division
MEMORANDUM FOR WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION OF PITTSBURGH
SUBJECT: March 2010 Meeting
ITEMS OF INTEREST TO NAVIGATION
1. LOCK CLOSURES AND DELAYS – A meeting was held with the Navigation Committee and the Maintenance Schedule for the Locks and Dams was revised.
The scheduled closure for Lock # 2 Allegheny River has been moved to September 13 through 27, 2010 to take advantage of better river conditions.
Currently the Land Wall Filling Valve is being replaced at Hannibal L/D, Ohio River. This work will continue through March 26, 2010. The 600’ chamber will be closed causing slight delays to navigation.
The Hannibal work will be followed by valve repair work, at Lock #4 Allegheny. There will be a 35 ft. barge width restriction for the duration of this work, which will take place from April 5 through April 23, 2010.
2. RECOMMENDED INTERNET SITES - The following sites are recommended for the most up-to-date navigation information.
a. Daily Navigation Conditions: www.lrd-wc.usace.army.mil/text/pitrpti.txt
b. Current River Conditions: http://wmw.lrp.usace.army.mil
c. District Navigation Notices: www.lrp.usace.army.mil/or/or-f/navrpt.htm
3. OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
High Water Issues: Colonel Crall wishes to extend his concern for the impending high water event, which will likely take place beginning this weekend. We must continue to work closely, as a group to be at the highest possible level of preparedness.
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works): ASA, Jo-Ellen Darcy toured Lock # 4 Monongahela River on Friday February 19, 2010 and participated in a discussion with industry reps, as well as participating in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the anniversary of ARRA funding.
Chief, Operations Division, Richard Lockwood, will be back at the helm of Pittsburgh District Operations on 27 March 2010. In the interim, James Fisher will continue to work as Acting Chief of the Operations Division.
Walsh Construction, Contractor for Pennsylvania Turnpike will be constructing a four-lane concrete box girder bridge supported by two river piers constructed from causeways, over the Monongahela River at about Mile 59.1 near Denbo (Vesta No. 6), Washington County, Pennsylvania. Navigational clearance during construction will be about 345 feet. The work will be performed from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning Monday, March 2, 2009 and ending February 7, 2011. During this work, the M/V Okan Express provided by Ed McGavin would move the 40-foot x 50-foot, 7-foot draft Shugart Barge floating plant mounting a Reed SK 35 truck-mounted drill rig. The plant will include an 18-foot Skiff boat for safety.
Notice is hereby given that the USACE – Pittsburgh District will no longer send Notices to Navigation Interests by e-mail. In order to view these notices, you must access the USACE – Pittsburgh District web page at www.lrp.usace.army.mil/or/or-f/navrpt.htm.
USACE will continue to send electronic version of Notices to Navigation Interests to USCG (United States Coast Guard) and the Waterways Association.
/signed/
RICHARD C. LOCKWOOD
Chief, Operations Division
RIVER AND WEATHER CONDITIONS
Prepared for Waterways Assn. of Pittsburgh Meeting 3/10/10
National Weather Service Forecast Office, Pittsburgh PA
For the latest river and weather forecasts--http://www.weather.gov/pittsburgh
WEATHER RECAP
Temperatures were colder than normal in February with below normal days out numbering above normal days by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. Precipitation was generally above normal with the exception of the upper Allegheny River basin where precipitation was below normal. Many areas received 18 – 24 inches of snow with 3 feet or more reported in the mountains on 4-5 February. A second occurrence of up to 3 feet of snow struck the mountains from 24-28 February. Precipitation averaged 2.50 inches in the Allegheny River basin or near normal. In the Monongahela and Ohio River basins precipitation averaged 3.25 – 4.00 inches or about 1.00 inch above normal.
At the Pittsburgh International Airport monthly precipitation was 3.22 inches, which is 0.85 of an inch above normal. Temperature averaged 4.1 degrees per day below normal. Snowfall totaled 48.7 inches or 40.2 inches above normal. The previous record monthly snowfall in Pittsburgh was 40.2 inches in January 1978.
For the first 9 days of March temperatures were 2.9 degrees/day below normal and precipitation was only a trace which is 0.89 of an inch below normal. There has been a trace of snow in March bringing the seasonal total to 76.9 inches. This is 43 inches above normal, and making it the 3rd snowiest winter in Pittsburgh. Precipitation for the year is 6.12 inches or 0.16 of an inch above normal.
RIVER FLOWS
Snow water equivalents are currently 1- 2 over most of the region. However, in the upper Yough and Cheat River basins the snow water equivalents are still in the 5 – 8 inch range with up to 10 inches along the ridgelines and above Yough Dam. There were no significant rises on the main stem rivers in February. River flows fell throughout the month…but averaged in the normal range overall.
HIGH WATER POTENTIAL
The high water potential is high. 70 – 80% of the snowpack in the mountains and Lake Erie Snow Belt is expected to melt by Monday. A prolonged storm over the weekend may produce 1-2 inches of rain.
WEATHER FORECAST
Today…40% chance of showers. High near 60.
Tonight…Mostly cloudy. Low near 45.
Thursday…40% chance of afternoon showers. High near 60.
Thursday night…80% chance of showers. Low near 50.
Friday…40% chance of showers. High in the lower 60s.
Friday night…70% chance of showers and possible thunderstorms. Low in the upper 40s.
Saturday…80 percent chance of showers. High 50 to 55.
Saturday night… 80 percent chance of showers. Low around 40.
Sunday…60% chance of showers. High in the upper 40s.
Monday…. 50% chance of showers. Low in the upper 30s. High near 50.
Tuesday…Partly cloudy. Low in the mid 30s. High in the upper 40s.
8-14 Day Outlook…below normal temperature and precipitation.
Mar Outlook...near normal temperature and below normal precipitation
Apr –May-Jun Outlook…near normal temperature and near normal flows